From time to time the Australian Department of Immigration make amendments and Legislation Changes which make obtaining an Australia Visa easier or indeed a litttle harder.

On the 26th of April a number of minor changes were announced. Most of these are not particularly relevant to most of our readers, however a changes to the Student Visa class are worthy of a mention.

The regulations are amended to:

• Include work rights on all initial student visa grants thus removing the need for student visa holders to make a separate application for permission to work.
• Prevent students and their family members from undertaking work until the student has commenced their course of study or training by amending student visa work conditions.
• Define the term ‘week’ as it applies to student visa work conditions.
• Increase the Student Visa Application Charge
• Amend a minor technical error made as a result of 2007 changes relating to the introduction of the Values Statement.

Transitional provisions: The amendments apply in relation to an application for a visa made but not finally determined before, or made on or after, 26 April 2008.

More info available here.